Municipal telegraph



J 0. WILSON.

MUNICIPAL TELEGRAPH.

Patented Mar; 3, 1885.

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JOHN CORNELIUS WILSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MUN IOIPAL SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PORTSMOUTH, NFAV HAMPSHIRE.

.MUNlClPAL TELEGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,11-7, dated March 8, 1885.

Application filed January 28, 1884. (No model.) I

1'0 rtZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN GoRNELIUs WIL- SON, of Boston, county ot'Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in 5 Municipal Telegraphsof which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to a municipal-tele- IO graph apparatus, and is intended to be used in connection with apparatus of the kind shown in Letters Patent N 0. 288,536, dated N ovember 13, 1883. The signal-box shown in said patent and the apparatus forming the subject i5 of the present invention are especially intended for a police-telegraph. systennin which electric circuits are extended from the different police stations or headquarters, each through the regions patrolled by one or more police- 20 men, and have at numerous points signalboxes, which may be operated by any authorized citizen, to transmit a signal which indicates the number of the box that is operated, thus giving information of the substation or 25 locality where police aid of some nature is desired, so that such aid may be at once sent from the policeheadquarters to the said station. The said boxes are also provided with multiple signal devices, by means of which a po- 0 liceinan or other authorized person may send special signals indicating just what is re quired and the station at which it is required, it being intended that the policeman shall stop at each box in going his rounds. In 3 5 some localities the policemans beat and the signal-boxes thereon are at such a distance from the main police stations or headquarters that considerable time is required for assistance to reach the box from which a call for aid 4c is received and it is desirable to have some means for transmitting signals from the police-headquarters to theboxes, so that if a call or signal for assistance is received at the headquarters a signal may be sent from the 5 said headquarters to the policeman when he arrives at the next box in his beat, directing him to the box from which the call was re ceived.

The present invention has for its object to 50 provide such means for transmitting definite signals from a main or central station to different signal-boxes in circuit with the said station; and it consists, essentially, in a transmitting apparatus at the 'mai 11 oliice, and receiving-signal at the box, which may be oper- 5 ated at the proper time. As shown in this instance of my invention, the transmitting apparatus at the main station consists of a multiple signal device having upon its sur face signals corresponding to all the boxes or to stations on the said circuit, and preferably any desired number of additional arbitrary signals, the said device being placed in proper position to transmit any desiredrone ot' the said signals by the operator at the main station, 6 but not operating to transmit such predetermined signal until caused to do so from some other point on the circuit, the signal thus be ing determined as to character by the operator at the main oitice, but the act of transmission being controlled from the point where the said signal is to be received. Each of the signal-boxes is provided with a device for thus causing or permitting such predetermined signal to be transmitted, so that upon the arrival of a policeman at any box he may cause the transmitter at the main otlice to operate and transmit to him the signal which has been previously set up for him' by the operator at the main office, thus enabling the operator at ,80 the main ot'fice to set up before the arrival of any policeman at any box of his beat a signal to indicate an order which it is desired shall be transmitted to the policeman on his arrival at a box, and the policeman having re- 8 ceived the said predetermined signal may by means of the transmitting devices located in the box indicate to the main ofi'ice the reception of the said order and the number of the box or sub-station at which the said pre 0 determined signal was received.

The device operated by the policeman in this instance of my invention consists of a cir- /cnitbrcaker opening a normally-closed shunt around a considerable resistance at the box, 5

and thereby throwing the said resistance into circuit, and causing the current in the line to be weakened. This reduction in the strength of the current causes the release of the automatic transmitting mechanism at the main ICO ingthe signal-receivin g apparatus of the main station.

In accordance with my former patent re- 5 ferred to it was intended that the policeman on arriving at each box should transmit to the main office a patrol-signal showing that he was properlymaking his rounds,which patrolsignal was recorded by the same instrument employed to record the particular wants which it was possible for both the policeman and citizen to indicate at the main office. The reception of both patrol-calls and want-calls on the same instrument isobjectionable, as I 5 the patrol-calls require no service, and will usually greatly outnumber the want-calls, and the reception at the main office on the same instrument of signals requiring no immediate service and those requiring immediate attention is liable to result in and foster a tendency to carelessness,whereas,if the signals demanding immediate service, or which are in answer to signals conveyed to the policeman from the main oftice, are the only ones which are record- '25 ed, the attendant at the main office is kept always alert whenever the recording-i nstrument is started, knowing that each signal so recorded demands immediate service. The present system of receiving signals at the boxes from the 0 main office enables these objectionable patrolsignals to be dispensed with, because the fact that asignal may at any time be awaiting a policeman at his boxes is a sufficient inducement to cause him to go to the boxes at the prescribed times, as he knows that his failure to respond to such a signal will surely be detected and have to be accounted for, and he cannot know in advance, or until after opening the box, whether or not a signal is await- 40 ing him.

Figure 1 shows in diagram a municipal-telegraph circuit and apparatus embodying this invention, and Fig. 2 a detail to be referred to.

The apparatus at the main or central sta- 5 tion, including the battery B and receiving apparatus R, (shown as a relay-magnet, r, and register r,) and the main-line circuit L, from thesaid station through any desired re gion containing a series of substations or signal-boXes S, may be of any suitable or usual construction, the said signal-boxes being preferably substantially such as shown in'Letters Patent No. 288,536, before referred to. In one of the said signal-boxes the parts essen- 5 5 tial to the present invention are shown in dia gram. The main station also contains a mul tiple signaling device, a, which is concave at its sides to co-operate with one or more revolving springs 12, actuated at the proper times by a suitable motor or train of wheel-work, 0,

controlled by a detent, 03, preferably itself operated by an electro-magnet, 0, included in a local circuit controlled by the receiving-relay 1' and a releasingrelay, f. The armature of the relay f, when attracted, keeps the local circuit of the detent-magnet 6 open and closes the said circuit when retracted, and the said magnet is adjusted to hold its armature attracted when the normal current is flowing, but to release it when the said current is weakened, as by the interposition of any considerable resistance into the circuit. The armature of the relay r retains the local circuit of the magnet 6 connected as long as it remains attracted, and the said relay is adjusted to retain its armature attracted when the current is weakened sufficiently to release the armature of the relay f. then, however, the magnets of both relays f and r are demagnetized, the former connects the local circuit, but the latter opens it, so that the deteut-magnet is not affected by the opening of the main circuit and total interruption of the current therein. WVhen the detent-magnet is energized by the retraction of the armature of the relay f, while that of the relay r remains attracted, it releases the motor 0, permitting the spring I) to pass over the adjacent portion of the surface of the drum a. The surface of the drum on is cut away or notched on-liues from end to end, and when turned on its axis a presents different lines of notches in the path of the spring I), the said notches being so arranged as to produce the different signalsone corresponding to the number of each one of the signal-boxes Sin the said circuit-and there preferably being other surfaces for producing other code-signals. The drum aand springs I) control a local circuit, 3, including the electro-magnet g of a transmitting-instrument the armaturelever g of which has two contact-pieces, g g, the former connected by wire 9 and the latter by wire with the opposite poles of the main battery B, by which the signalsare transmitted over the main-line circuit L. \Vhen the armature of the transmitter is unattracted, as shown, the two contact-points g g are in electrical connection with contact-springs h h, connected with opposite ends of the main line L, thus interposing the battery B in the said line, and when the said armature-lever g is attracted the contact-points g g are brought into contact with springs h h and disconnected from the springs h h, thus reversing the position of the battery B in the main line without opening the said line, the springs h h connected with the points 9 g in its different positions being respectively connected with the opposite terminals of the line L, and the. springs h h being connected with opposite ter- .minals of the line L. The drum or and spring I b will thus cause a series of reversals in the polarity of the current in the line L, which reversals will operate suitable polarized signalinstruments t, at the different signal-boxes, the said instruments being shown as bells, which will thus receive a series of taps from their hammers corresponding'to the projecting portions of the surface of the drum a, over which the spring b isthen passing. The magnets of 3 the said instruments t will preferably be normally shunted or removed from the main circuit by the branches 4 of the main line L, and may be introduced therein at the proper time by operating any suitable key or device, k, for opening the shunt, the said device It preferably being operated by the door of the box being opened to introduce the signal i into the circuit when the box-door is open, and being closed to shunt the said signal when the said door is closed. The shaft of the drum a is provided with a pointer, m, co-operating with a dial, m, (see Fig. 2,) having its divisions corresponding with and characterized by the signals produced by the surface of the drum a, so that whenthe said pointer is turned to any desired division the spring and drum will transmit such signal over the circuit when the motor cis released. The boxes S are provided with multiple drums at and break-wheels a, controlling the main circuit and breaking and closing it to produce signals on the relay 7* and register at the main office. The boxes also contain a considerable electrical resistance, 0, normally shunted by a branch, 5, of the main line, including a circuit-breaker, 0, which may be operated by the policeman when the door of the box is opened to throw the said resistance 0 into circuit, thus reducing the strength of the current sufficiently to cause the magnet f to release its armature, without, however, effecting the release of the armature of the relay r, so that the local circuit 2 is closed, charging the magnet e and causing the release of the motor a, which operates the spring I), thus effecting the transmission of a signal to the box S.

In operation the policeman in going his rounds will open the door of each box and operate the circuit-breaker 0, thus effecting the release of the motor a, as just described. As long as the different policemen are making their rounds properly, or on schedule time, the motor 0 at the main office will be released at regular intervals, and the operator at the main office will know that the different boxes are being opened by the policemen, although he need not know from which particular box the motor 0 is operated, such information of the particular box not being needful. If, however, the motor 0 fails to operate at regular intervals, it will designate to the operator at the central office that some policemen are neglecting to make their rounds and operate their boxes. If such neglect occurs, or if the op erator at the main office desires to ascertain if any particular policeman is calling at his boxes in the proper time and order of rotation, the said operator can set the pointer in at the number on theidial m corresponding with the number of the box at which the officer should next arrive, and the latter on his arrival at the box and operating the key 0 will receive the signal thus set, and will answer the same by an on-duty signal, which will operate the receiving-instrument r at the main otfice, giving the number of the box at which he then is. If the policeman fails to arrive at the said box in time, the absence of the reception of the onduty signal will indicate his neglect, or if his on-duty signal is received from another box it will indicate that he is not making his rounds in regular order, and in either case he can be called to account. If a citizens call is received, for instance, from box 321, it being transmitted by the breakwheel n, and thus operating both relays f and r, producing no effect on the magnet e, as before described, the attendant at the main office will at once turn the pointer in opposite 821 on the dial in, and then when the policeman arrives at another box and operates the circuit-breaker 0 the train 0 will be released, as before described, and the spring b will pass over the surface of the drum a, producing'the signal 321 on the bell of the box where the policeman is, thus informing the policeman that he is wanted at the box 321.

Certain of the signals on the drum a represent special directions, which will be understood by the policeman.

The detent (1 may, if desired, be operated by hand instead of automatically, as shown, it being only necessary for the attendant to disengage it from the detent-wheel of the motor-train. I

The drum a will preferably have a blank space to be placed in the path of the spring b when no special instructions are required for the policeman. The absence of a signal thus is practically a definite indication, and in some cases it might be sufficient to have only one other signal, and a system in which the main office contains a signal-transmitting apparatus which may be set by the operator at the said office in condition to remain silent or to transmit a definite signal when an operator at an other point calls the said transmitting apparatus into operation, would be within the scope of the present invention, or, in other words, an apparatus for producing a variable signal which may be set or have the character of the said signal determined by an operator at one point, but having the transmission of the said signal (if there be any) governed by an operator at another point.

I claim- 1. A main station containing signal-receiving apparatus and a multiple signal device, combined with a main line or circuit leading from said station, and signal-boxes or sub-stations thereon containing signal-transmitting and signalreceiving devices whereby different definite signals may be automatically transmitted from the main to the sub stations, and the reverse, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The main and sub stations and line or circuit connecting them, the said main station containing a multiple signal-transmitting device, combined with an actuating-motor for said transmitting device, and detent for said motor, and controlling devices for the said detent located at the sub-stations, whereby a person at a sub-station may cause a signal the character of which has been determined at the main station to be automatically transmitted to him at the sub-station, substantially as described.

3. A main station, line, and sub-stations, the said main station containing a multiple signaltransmitting device, actuating-motor therefor, and detent for the said motor, combined with signal-receiving apparatus at the sub-stations, resistance, and devices controlling the introduction of the said resistance into the main circuit and its removal therefrom, substantially as described. I 4. An electric circuit connecting a main and sub stations, combined with relays at the main station, one adjusted to respond to changes in current strength, and the other to total interruptions in the current, and signal-transmitting apparatus at the main station for sending signals over the circuit to the sub-stations, the said transmitting apparatus being controlled bythe said relays, as described, whereby the said transmitting apparatus is set in operation upon a change in current strength, but not upon a total interruption thereof, substantially as described.

5. An electric circuit and main and sub stations therein, the said main station contain ing a multiple signal-transmitting apparatus adapted to transmit any desired one of a series of definite signals, combined with controlling devices for the said transmitting apparatus located at the sub-stations, whereby an operator at a sub-station may call into operation the transmitting device at the main station in order to receive at the substation a signal the nature of which is determined at the main station, substantially as described.

6. A system of electrical signaling between a main and sub station, comprehending a multiple si gnal-transm'ittin g apparatus at the main station and a series of signal boxes constituting the sub-stations in electrical circuit therewith, the signal-transmitting apparatus at the main station containing an index which may be set to indicate the signal it is desired to subsequently deliver or produce at the substation, the said signal being made effective at the sub-station by or through mechanism located at the box of the sub-station, substantially as described.

7 The main electric circuit, and two relaymagnets therein having their armatures adjusted to respond to currents of different strength, combined with two independent local circuits, one controlled wholly by the relay having the weaker retractor, and the other controlled by both relays, as described, and independent electro-magnets in the said local circuits, operated independently of one another by different changes in the current in the main circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. An electric circuit and main and sub stations therein, the said main station containing a variable signal-transmitting apparatus controlled as to the character of the signal by an operator at the said main station, combined with a controlling device for the said transmitting apparatus, located at a sub-station governing the transmission of the signal which has been previously determined by the operator at the main station, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof'I have signed my name 

